Greeks in the U.K. Join Forces to Promote Greek Tourism at Piccadilly Circus

Up Greek Tourism launches its campaign to raise money for a billboard at London’s Piccadilly Circus to promote tourism in Greece. This follows two inspirational campaigns in New York’s Time Square and Washington DC.

“Up Greek Tourism” is an innovative grassroots campaign managed, on a voluntary basis, by ordinary Greeks around the world whose goal is to boost the Greek economy and Greece’s image abroad. It has chosen tourism as its subject for promotion because of its critical importance to Greece’s economic recovery; tourism now accounts for 18% of Greek GDP and 20% of the country’s employment.

The campaign went live today on the website Loudsauce and aims to raise a minimum of £12.000 in just 3 weeks through crowd funding – an Internet based fund-raising platform. Donors who pledge £10 or above will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win a return ticket to Greece from London, kindly donated by travel website tripsta.net.

The advertising video will be created by award – winning visual designer Charis Tsevis and will be displayed on the Piccadilly Lite 24 hours a day for 2 weeks starting on February 1st 2013.

“We chose London and Piccadilly Circus because it’s an iconic location, instantly recognisable around the world and the epicenter of a country which for years has been at the heart of Greek tourism”, says Katerina Spetsiou Project Manager for the London campaign.

The campaign aims to promote Greek tourism in two ways: directly, through the outdoor advertisement, and indirectly by creating a buzz in the media and social media.

“It’s exciting to be part of such an inspiring project to promote Greece and Greeks in a positive light”, says Anita Demetriou of the London team.
The two previous campaigns raised $30,000 also through Loudsauce and sparked worldwide interest from the media (including the BBC, CNN and The Guardian).

Following this success, the London campaign will aim to achieve even greater exposure and to act as the launchpad for campaigns in other European cities. “Up Greek Tourism” hope that their efforts will raise the profile of Greece as a tourist destination and also serve to inspire other Greeks to think of innovative personal initiatives to help their economy.

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